Thackeray

William Make peace, known the world as a novelist, would still have taken high rank amongst writers of English prose, if he had never written a line of fiction. Some obscurity hangs over the events of his life, for it was his characteristic desire that no biography should be published, and the wish has been respected by his family. He was bom at Calcutta 18th July, 1811. His father and grandfather were in the Indian Civil Service. Coming from India in childhood he was sent to Charter house School, the ‘Grey Friars ’ of “ The New comes." In 1829 he went up to Trinity College, Cambridge, but only remained there for a year which all pa ed through his hands in a year or two part of it lost at cards, part in an Indian bank, part in two unsucce ful newspapers. He had intended to become an artist, but never learnt to draw accurately. Meeting Dickens in 1835, he proposed to illustrate that novelist’s earliest book the offer was rejected, and Thackeray set about writing; books and illustrating them himself. In 1837-38 “ The Great Hoggarty Diamond” appeared in “Fraser's Magazine.*’ In 1840 he brought out the “ Paris Sketch Book.” About this time he began to write for “ Punch,” to which he contributed the “ Snob ” papers and many other things. His first great novel was “Vanity Fair,” 1848 “ Pen dennis ” was published in 1849-50 his great historical; novel, “Esmond,” in 18^2; “ The New comes” appeared in 1854-55 “ The Virgin i ans,” a sequel to “Esmond," in 1857-59.; He also wrote two brilliant sets of lectures, one on “ English Humourists” (1851), and the other on the “Four Georges” (1856), delivering them with great succe both m America and England. Matthew Shawe; by her he had three daughters, of whom the eldest is Mrs. Richmond Ritchie, known herself as a novelist and as the writer of delightful reminiscences. In 1859 he was invited by Me rs. Smith & Elder to edit their new monthly magazine, “ The Corn hill,” which was a succe from the first, and has since had a distinguished history. The best known of subsequent editors has been his son-in-law, Mr. Leslie Stephen. “ Corn hill ” when his career was abruptly terminated. He died suddenly an 24th December, 1863, in a house which he had lately built for himself at Palace Green. superficial stricture upon him, that he was ‘a cynic,’ is often repeated. So far as it rests on any basis, the criticism is due to his intense and even morbid sensitivene to * snobbishne ,’ against which he is always raising his protest. But he did not really think meanly of human nature, and he was himself a man of most tender heart, one of the most lovable of English writers.